Auto biz tunes up branding engine

Carmakers adds gadgets to promote new autos

With infotainment systems growing popular, automakers hope branding them will make their cars more attractive the way General Motors promoted OnStar (which faces competish from BMW’s BMW Assist, Hyundai’s Blue Link, Lexus’ Enform and Mercedes’ mbrace). Here are a few and what they offer:

BMW ConnectedDriveA futuristic version was shown off in “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol,” but BMW’s infotainment system features all the expected bells and whistles and connects to the Internet through BMW Online, a $99 a year service that features Wiki Local, Wikipedia entries on area destinations and Yelp restaurant reviews read aloud through text-to-speech functionality. Apps are only compatible through Apple’s iPhone but will soon expand to Android.

Toyota EntuneEntune controls media, navigation and cell phones, as well as apps such as iHeartRadio, Bing, Pandora, OpenTable and MovieTickets.com and info like realtime traffic, weather, sports scores and stock prices. Also offers voice controls. Launched with Prius V.

Chevrolet MyLinkSystem connects to phones and offers voice commands to control media and such apps as Pandora and Stitcher.

Cadillac CueThe Linux-based Cadillac User Experience sports an 8-inch LCD display to showcase apps, 3D navigation and provides tactile feedback when scrolling, selecting and swiping, and multi-touch gesturing, similar to a smarphone. It supports two Bluetooth connections and 10 devices. Voice controls enable more natural language usage. Internet browsing is available when parked. Bows with new XTS and ATS sedans and SRX crossover.

Ford Sync/MyFord TouchThe Touch system, also available in Lincoln’s luxury cars, gets a needed update to provide faster response times, better voice recognition, compatibility with more mobile devices, Audible.com’s e-books, and clearer phone calls. Fonts are larger and easier to read, while the overall design is simpler and less cluttered. Navigation includes 3D maps, and photorealistic road signs and info on nearby landmarks.

Buick IntelliLinkSimilar to Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system, IntelliLink is also available on GMC vehicles with the same functionality but with flashier graphics.

Mercedes-Benz ComandMercedes is embracing Siri-like voice controls found on Apple’s iPhone 4s to power its Comand system, which will utilize natural language dictation for text messaging, emails and web browsing while driving and control apps like Twitter, Facebook, Pandora and Google Street View navigation. Handwriting recognition and gesture controls for interior lighting is also in the works.

Kia UVOPowered by Microsoft, the system is short for “Your Voice,” and displays on a 4.3-inch screen to connect to a phone and media files. Also offers voice controls.